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Residents urge Montague school board to adopt strict safeguards for Lifewise release-time program
Summary
Dozens of residents told the Montague Area Public Schools board that Lifewise’s proposed release-time religious instruction risks singling out nonparticipants, reducing instructional minutes and introducing promotional materials; speakers called for background checks, neutral communications and limits on in-school recruitment.
Public comment at the Montague Area Public Schools board meeting on May 29 centered on Lifewise, a release-time religious instruction program that residents said is seeking access to elementary students during school hours. Multiple speakers asked the board to adopt a “viewpoint-neutral” release-time policy and to impose specific safeguards before allowing the program to operate in district schools.
Supporters of strict local rules said the district must protect instructional minutes, student safety and neutrality. "My expectation for you is to govern," said Kathy Mahoney, identifying herself and her Montague address, urging the board to require background checks for Lifewise personnel and to ban Lifewise-branded materials and giveaways on school grounds. Mahoney asked the board to maintain the school-day schedule and to perform a cost–benefit analysis before permitting release time.
Several other residents raised similar concerns. "Our public schools serve children from every background, every faith, and no faith at all," Jill Smith said, arguing the district should not promote or recruit for the program and should ensure any release time is truly neutral. Edward Carter, who said he has two children in the district, called the proposal "a dangerous precedent" that could complicate the school day and urged policy development before any program starts.
Speakers cited legal limits and local policy choices. One commenter referenced a 1952 U.S. Supreme Court decision (the transcript cited the case as "Clerk versus Clawson") to note that release-time instruction has been permitted under specific conditions; others emphasized that Michigan law permits off-campus, parent-request release time only if statutory conditions are met. Several speakers warned of bullying and divisiveness when some children leave the classroom for religious instruction and return with gifts or distinct experiences.
Speakers also pressed operational and safety questions: who checks students in and out, whether Lifewise personnel would be covered by district insurance, whether the principal retains responsibility for students during release time, and whether release time would count against mandated instructional minutes. Kathleen Thompson and others asserted Lifewise is a national, well-funded Christian organization with franchise-style local operations; those claims were made as public comment and were not adjudicated during the meeting.
Board policy and process were referenced repeatedly. The board chair reminded attendees that the board does not respond during public comment but said the superintendent or designee would respond to citizen concerns outside the meeting. The commenters generally urged the board to adopt a clear, neutral release-time policy that would include background checks for outside personnel, restrictions on in-school promotion, explicit communication to families and protections for nonparticipating students.
The meeting record shows no board vote or formal action approving Lifewise during the session; public comment closed and the board moved to administrative reports and later business items. The superintendent was asked to follow up and respond to specific speakers in a timely fashion.
